Method and apparatus for configurably adjusting a bid in an online auction

Abstract

A method and apparatus for configuring and entering bids in an auction is disclosed. The method includes displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interfaced to a bidder. Thereafter, a bid adjustment value for the bid adjustment mechanism is set using the configuration interface. Following the setting step, upon actuation of the bid adjustment mechanism, a bid is adjusted by the bid adjustment value previously set using the configuration interface.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method of configuring a bid adjustment mechanism in an online auction, the method comprising: 
 displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface including the bid adjustment mechanism that allows a bidder to specify an adjustment for a bid without entering an amount of the bid;    setting the bid adjustment mechanism to a bid adjustment value specified by the bidder using the configuration interface; and    adjusting a bid in the online auction by the bid adjustment value set in the configuration interface in the event that the bid adjustment mechanism is actuated,    wherein the bid adjustment value corresponds to a bid rank.    
   
   
       18 . A method of configuring bid adjustment mechanisms in an online auction, wherein bids are comprised of at least two parameters, and each parameter may be adjusted using a different bid adjustment mechanism, the method comprising: 
 displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface; and    setting a bid adjustment value for each of the at least two bid parameters, such that when the bid adjustment mechanism for a given bid parameter is actuated, the given bid parameter is adjusted by the bid adjustment value set for the parameter based on input provided by a bidder using the configuration interface.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein setting the bid adjustment value further comprises selecting, for each one of the at least two bid parameters, a bid adjustment type associated with the bid adjustment value set for said one bid parameter.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two bid parameters include price and quantity.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two bid parameters include discount rate and contract length.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for configuring at least two bid adjustment components of an application for submitting bids to an electronic auction, wherein each bid adjustment component is adjusted using a different bid adjustment mechanism comprising: 
 a user-interface that displays bid adjustment mechanism configuration options for each bid adjustment component to a bidder;    a processor, coupled to the user-interface that sets a bid adjustment value for the bid adjustment mechanism for each bid adjustment component based on input provided by a bidder;    wherein, upon actuation of the bids adjustment mechanism for a bid adjustment component, a bid is adjusted by the bid adjustment value for said bid adjustment component.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein setting the bid adjustment value further comprises selecting, for each one of the at least two bid parameters, a bid adjustment type associated with the bid adjustment value set for said one bid parameter.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least two bid adjustment components include price and quantity.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least two bid parameters include discount rate and contract length.  
   
   
       25 . A computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which when executed on a processing system cause said processing system to perform a method of configuring a bid adjustment mechanism in an online auction, the method comprising: 
 displaying a bid adjustment mechanism configuration interface; and    setting a bid adjustment value for each of the at least two bid parameters, such that when the bid adjustment mechanism for a given bid parameter is actuated the given bid parameter is adjusted by the bid adjustment value set for the parameter based on input provided by a bidder using the configuration interface.    
   
   
       26 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein setting the bid adjustment value further comprises selecting, for each one of the at least two bid parameters, a bid adjustment type associated with the bid adjustment value set for said one bid parameter.  
   
   
       27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein the at least two bid parameters include price and quantity.  
   
   
       28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 25 , wherein the at least two bid parameters include discount rate and contract length.